A Guide to the Best Credit Cards for a 600 Credit Score

Unlike most other options on our list, the Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa® combines the convenience of a credit card with the lower rates of a personal loan product.

It offers a lot of flexibility, doesn’t impose maintenance, transaction, or penalty fees, and even offers 1.5% cashback rewards. 

APR and Fees

Before we move on to discussing the costs you’ll face as an Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa® card owner, let’s talk about the mechanism behind this financial product.

Here’s how it works: When you sign up for the Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa®, you’ll qualify for a personal line of credit. At the end of the month, all the purchases you’ve made using this credit card will be combined in a single amount and placed into an installment repayment plan with monthly payments.

Depending on your creditworthiness and the credit line, you’ll face an APR between 14.99% and 29.99%.

Apart from the aforementioned interest rate, this hybrid credit card/personal loan product doesn’t impose any other types of costs.

There are no monthly, ATM, cash advance, cash reload, balance inquiry, customer service, inactivity. But it has a balance transfer fee of up to 5% and foreign transaction fee of up to 3%.

Reasons to Choose the Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa®

One of the things that make the Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa® one of the better credit cards on our list is its lucrative rewards program.

Cardholders earn 1.5% cash back on all purchases after repaying them, and all earnings are applied to their card’s next month’s balance, almost like a bill prepayment.

Additionally, given that its issuer reports on-time payments to the three major credit bureaus, this card can help you build your FICO scores over time with responsible use.

Another great thing about the Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa® is that it treats your credit card balance like a personal loan.

Each time you don’t pay your bill in full, you’ll be charged a rate on the remaining amount. Depending on what you’ve qualified for, you’ll have 24, 36, or 60 months to repay the balance in equal monthly installments.

The Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa® can debit the payments directly from your bank account and doesn’t impose prepayment penalties. 

This card also lets you see what credit line you’ll be able to qualify for without performing a hard pull on your credit report, which is a rare but welcome feature. 

Reasons to Explore Other Options

As far as drawbacks go, this card lacks some of the standard features found in similar cards, such as a sign-up bonus or a 0% introductory APR period on purchases and balance transfers.

Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa® may also not offer the most attractive interest rates, especially if your credit score is less than stellar. 

Lastly, keep in mind that this credit card/personal loan hybrid product isn’t available to residents of Iowa, Wisconsin, West Virginia, and Washington, D.C.

At a Glance

• Generous cashback rewards
• Credit limit of up to $25,000
• No annual fee

With its potentially high initial credit limit, the possibility to increase it after six months, and the fact that the card issuer reports payment information to the three major credit bureaus, there is a lot to like about this card.

APR and Fees

As far as the annual percentage rates go, the Surge® Platinum Mastercard® credit card doesn’t provide an introductory APR offer. The ongoing rate for purchase and balance transfer is 35.90% fixed. There isn’t a penalty rate.

As for the fees, this credit card comes with an annual cost. During your first year of card membership, you’ll be charged a fee between $75 - $125, after that $99 - $125 annually.

Note that there’s also a monthly maintenance cost that can go up to $10 per month. On the plus side, this cost is waived for the first year.

Also keep in mind that there’s a foreign transaction fee of up to 3% of each transaction in US dollars and a cash advance charge which will set you back either $10 or 3% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater.

Lastly, both late and returned payments on your Surge® Platinum Mastercard® for fair credit incur charges of up to $41. 

Reasons to Choose the Surge® Platinum Mastercard®

As a poor or fair credit consumer, you expect your credit card to help you build your score by reporting your on-time payment information to the three major consumer credit bureaus.

We’re happy to inform you that Surge® Platinum Mastercard® will do just that. 

Another good reason to choose this solution by Continental Finance is that prospective card owners can qualify for a credit line of up to $1,000.

Other useful features that put this card on firmly our list include $0 fraud liability and a credit score report in your monthly e-statements. 

Reasons to Explore Other Options

While it’s certainly a solid option for fair-credit consumers, Surge® Platinum Mastercard® also comes with several drawbacks. 

Not only does the company charge a high annual fee but this card also comes with a long list of additional fees that other competitors may not impose.

Moreover, it comes with no signup bonus, and there are no ongoing rewards, either. 

At a Glance

• Reports to the three major credit bureau
• Credit limit up to $1,000 (subject to available credit)
• Credit score in monthly statements

This is another great option if you’re in the market for a low-interest credit card for fair credit scores.

Once you’re approved for the First Progress Platinum Prestige Mastercard Secured Credit Card, you’ll automatically qualify for two other secured cards from the same bank.  

Although the card comes with high annual fees and doesn’t offer any rewards, its low-interest rate and easy-to-meet requirements make it one of the best financial solutions on our list. 

APR and Fees

The Platinum Prestige Mastercard Secured Credit Card has an annual fee of $49.

In addition to the annual fee, there is a cash advance fee of $10 or 3% of each cash advance. If you sign up to use this card, you’ll also be charged for any foreign transactions, which equals 3% of the transaction amount. 

Moreover, the Platinum Prestige Mastercard Secured Credit Card slaps customers with penalties of up to $41 for late payments, while the returned payment fee goes up to $29. 

Reasons to Choose the First Progress Platinum Prestige Mastercard Secured Credit Card

First of all, there are no minimum credit score or credit history requirements. Additionally, the service provides monthly reports to all three major credit bureaus, meaning that you can boost your credit score by making regular payments. 

One of the main reasons this card made our list is the relatively low APR, which is 14.49% (variable) for purchases and 23.49% (variable) for a cash advance.

Compared to other similar credit cards, the APR is among the lowest you can find. Additionally, you can earn 1% cash back rewards.

Reasons to Explore Other Options

The minimum deposit is $200, and it’s a bit complicated to add more money to increase your credit line. 

At a Glance

• No credit check
• Reports to three major credit agencies
• Refundable deposit
• 25-day grace period
• Earn 1% cash back rewards
• Credit reporting with Equifax, Experian and TransUnion

Issued by the Utah-based Celtic Bank and serviced by Continental Finance, Reflex® Platinum Mastercard® is one of the easiest credit cards to get with an average credit rating.

Even though this is a fee-heavy card that caters to consumers with limited credit, it still has a few attractive features, such as a fast application process and monthly access to your credit score.  

APR and Fees

Considering that the Reflex® Platinum Mastercard® charges an APR of 35.90% (fixed) for both purchases and balance transfers, carrying a balance on this credit card isn’t a great idea.

This card charges an annual fee which will set you back between $75 - $125, after that $99 - $125 annually. Note that there’s also a $30 additional card charge.

Taking a cash advance will cost you either $10 or 3% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater. Foreign transaction fees go up to 3% per item.

Returned payments and late payments can cost you up to $41 per item. 

Reasons to Choose the Reflex® Platinum Mastercard®

Reflex® Platinum Mastercard® offers an initial credit line up to $1,000.

Considering that this card is geared towards poor- and fair-credit consumers, it helps you build or re-establish your score by reporting payment information to the three major credit bureaus. 

Another useful feature offered by Reflex® Platinum Mastercard® is $0 fraud liability. Thanks to this benefit, card owners can rest assured that they won’t be held responsible for any unauthorized charges on their cards.

Reasons to Explore Other Options

Reflex® Platinum Mastercard® not only charges a high APR, but also has an annual fee and a long list of additional costs. 

Meeting the eligibility criteria and completing the application process for this card is quick and easy, but there are better options on the market for fair-credit applicants.

Note that Reflex® Platinum Mastercard® requires a checking account - unlike a few other options on our list.

Moreover, it lacks some of the more advanced cardmember benefits such as a rewards program, a signup bonus, and a 0% intro APR offer. 

At a Glance

• Reports to the three major credit bureaus
• 0% fraud liability
• Quick and easy application process

OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card is issued by the Capital Bank N.A., and is perfect for those looking to build or improve their credit quickly. Low APR, secured credit, and small fees make it a decently cost-effective choice. The significant downside of this card is that it does not offer any rewards or cash-back programs.  

APR and Fees

The OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card has a low APR of 24.89% (variable) and many small fees. There is a $35 annual fee, and the late payment fee can go up to $41. Luckily, the returned payment fee is only $25. The foreign transaction fee is also something to keep in mind, standing at 3% per transaction, making it not the best option if you travel abroad frequently. 

Reasons to Choose the OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card

One of the main reasons to consider this card is that there is no credit score requirement, and OpenSky will not check your credit score upon approval. So, if you have bad credit or no credit, this could be an excellent option for you. 

Additionally, it is a secured card, which means your deposit will secure your line of credit. The deposit you place can be anywhere between $200 and $3,000, which is fully refundable and will be returned to you if you decide to close your account and go with an unsecured credit card instead.

OpenSky reports to all three bureaus, so using this card responsibly can help you build your credit quickly. As always, it is recommended to use approximately 30% of your credit limit each month to achieve the best results. 

Finally, the approval process is quick and easy. With OpenSky, you'll know whether you are approved for a card or not in a matter of minutes, and you can handle the whole process entirely online in less than five minutes.

If you are looking to make a big purchase and need to improve your credit score to get better rates, you can start building your credit right away with OpenSky. 

Reasons to Explore Other Options

The biggest downside of the OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card is that it does not offer introductory APR, so if you want to save on interest, this might not be the best option.

At a Glance

• Quick approval process
• No credit score requirement
• Reports to all three major bureaus

This is one of the easiest credit cards to get because the bank doesn’t do a credit check and there is no minimum credit score required.

That means approval is guaranteed even if you have a poor credit score and red flags on your report.

With a low fixed interest rate, this is definitely one of the best solutions for card holders struggling to improve their credit score.

If you pay your bills on time, you can expect significant improvements in your score relatively quickly. 

APR and Fees

When compared to other credit cards, the Applied Bank Secured Visa Gold Preferred Credit Card stands out for charging the lowest interest rate in the industry. The card comes with a fixed APR of 9.99%, so you don’t need to worry about market fluctuations. 

It’s also important to mention that the bank won’t charge you application fees, and what’s more important, it doesn’t charge penalty APR.

However, there are other fees that you need to know about. First of all, the bank will charge you an annual fee of $48. The sum is automatically taken from your account after you make an initial deposit.

This card comes with a few additional fees including $38 for late payments as well as a $30 stop payment fee and a 3% foreign transaction fee. Customers will also be charged for any additional or replacement cards.   

Reasons to Choose the Applied Bank Secured Visa Gold Preferred Credit Card

Designed for clients who don’t have a good credit score but want to rebuild it, the Applied Bank Secured Visa Gold Preferred Credit Card has a large pool of customers.

This is one of the better cards for those with fair credit rating because there are no minimum credit score requirements, and it’s remarkably easy to get approved.

Another great thing about the card is that customers can benefit from automatic reporting to all three national credit bureaus.

This will help you improve your credit score if you pay your bills on time.

In addition, it’s important to note that the aforementioned APR is hard to find anywhere else, even if your credit score is higher than 600. 

You have to deposit a minimum of $200 or a maximum of $1000 to activate the card. However, you can also increase your credit limit up to $5000 by making additional deposits. 

Reasons to Explore Other Options

In addition to the $48 annual fee, which is higher than with any other option on our list, the bank charges a long list of other fees. 

Unlike many of its counterparts, the Applied Bank Secured Visa Gold Preferred Credit Card doesn’t have a grace period, and customers are charged interest right off the bat.

Also, some customers might be disappointed to learn that there is no rewards program available. 

At a Glance

• No credit check
• Flexible deposits
• Low APR
• Automatic reports to three national credit bureaus

Petal® 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa® is one of the easiest credit cards to get with fair credit. Offered by WebBank, Member FDIC, this card doesn’t charge fees of any kind. Furthermore, it helps you build your credit and encourages you to make on-time payments with its higher cashback reward rates. 

APR and Fees

Much like most other cards geared toward consumers with less-than-stellar credit, the Petal® 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa® doesn’t have an intro APR offer. The ongoing rate is 18.24% - 32.24% (variable), determined based on the applicant’s creditworthiness. 

On the plus side, this Visa card for fair credit stays true to its name and doesn’t impose monthly maintenance fees, foreign transaction fees, or penalty charges such as returned or late payment fees. 

Reasons to Choose Petal® 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa® 

The Petal 2 card comes with plenty of premium features. 

First, let’s discuss the card’s reward policy. As a new card holder, you receive 1% cashback on all eligible purchases. If you make six on-time payments, you’ll receive 1.25% cashback on all eligible purchases.

Finally, if you make 12 timely payments, your cashback rate will increase to 1.5%.

Furthermore, through Petal Offers, this card can earn you an additional 2% to 10% cashbacks at select merchants.

Keep in mind that the rewards earned via Petal Offers will be applied to your credit card account in the form of cashback points (a middleman reward currency) that you can redeem for cash.

In addition to a solid reward program, a great thing about the Petal 2 card is that its issuer looks at the bigger picture when evaluating applications.

In other words, alongside your credit score, the bank may also analyze your income, savings, and spending, so you’ll stand a better chance of qualifying for this credit card.

It’s also important to mention that Petal 2 card doesn't require a security deposit and has a credit limit up to $10,000 based on creditworthiness.

Reasons to Explore Other Options

The Petal® 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa® also comes with a few disadvantages. 

First, unlike the Avant credit card, it doesn't let you take cash advances. Although they can end up costing you a lot in fees and interest, these short-term loans come in handy if you happen to need some cash quickly. 

Another drawback of this credit card is that it doesn’t let you change your minimum deposit due date. If this is a deal-breaker for you, we suggest you check out Secured Mastercard® offered by Capital One.

At a Glance 

• No fees of any kind
• 2%-10% cashback at select merchants
• Potentially high credit limit

Tailored to credit rebuilders, sensible borrowers, and younger consumers, this financial product doesn’t require a security deposit, has no hidden fees, and boasts a fast and easy application process with a pre-approval opportunity. 

APR and Fees

Cost transparency is a hallmark of the Avant Credit Card issuer: There’s no intro APR and the regular annual percentage rate ranges between 24.99%-29.99%.

Keep in mind that the APR is variable and determined by your creditworthiness. 

Depending on your credit history, you will be charged a minimum annual fee of $29 up to a maximum of $59 per year.

In terms of additional costs, there’s a cash advance fee - the greater of 3% of the transaction amount and $10 - and a late payment charge of up to $39. On the other hand, there are no foreign transaction fees. 

Reasons to Choose the Avant Credit Card

Marketed as simple and transparent, the Avant credit card comes with a long list of advantages. Unlike most credit cards, this one is unsecured, which means that it grants you a credit limit between $300 and $1,000 to help you build your credit score and pay for what you need without asking for a security deposit.

Another great thing about it is that you won't have to submit a full application and undergo a hard credit check just to find out if you're eligible to receive it.

Avant offers a quick and easy pre-qualification option that will let you see if you qualify for the card and if so, review your likely credit limit and annual fee without damaging your FICO score. 

The Avant card lets you make purchases outside the US without additional costs.

Many cards aimed at those with an average credit score charge a 3%, or even higher foreign transaction fee, so the Avant Credit Card is an excellent choice for those doing business with foreign vendors or who travel internationally a lot.  

This card issuer also offers zero fraud liability for unauthorized charges, reports your payment information to all three major credit bureaus, and reviews your account periodically for a potential credit limit boost. 

Reasons to Explore Other Options

Many of the similar credit cards don’t have an annual fee. Therefore, the relatively low Avant Credit Card yearly membership charge is a drawback nonetheless. 

Rewards or one-time offers aren’t Avant’s strong points, either. While reward-earning opportunities aren’t the industry standard for starter cards, some do offer them, just not Avant.

Unlike most other credit cards on our list, the Avant card doesn’t let you adjust your payment to better match your financial situation. 

Don't expect any travel extras or similar cardmember benefits from this card, either. 

At a Glance

• No foreign transaction fees
• Quick and easy pre-qualification
• Reports to all three credit bureaus

If your credit history isn’t the longest, or you've made financial mistakes in the past, applying for a card such as the Platinum Mastercard from Capital One could be a smart decision.

Geared towards people with a credit score of 600, this card stands out with its lack of annual fee and long list of valuable perks to make your credit-building journey more bearable.

Though the APR is quite high, the Capital One Platinum credit card is still a solid choice for consumers who plan on using it mainly for small purchases and don’t intend to carry a balance. 

APR and Fees

With no introductory APR offer, the regular APR for purchases and balance transfers is 26.99% (variable).

While the high annual percentage rate isn’t a problem for those who pay their credit card bills in full every month, we suggest you explore other credit card offers for fair credit if you expect to carry over debt from month to month.

It’s also important to mention that, as a Capital One Platinum user, you get to choose your due date. In other words, the card lets you schedule payments according to your cash flow and pick the time of the month that best suits your unique situation.

Also, if you happen to make a late payment, you won't be charged a penalty annual percentage rate. 

Platinum Mastercard from Capital One doesn't come with a membership cost. There are also no foreign transaction fees; however, you'll be charged either $10 or 3% of each cash advance, whichever is greater. As far as penalty charges go, there's a late payment fee that can go up to $40. 

Reasons to Choose the Capital One Platinum Mastercard

Capital One Platinum is an unsecured credit card: In this context, “unsecured” means that you don’t need to put up collateral - a security deposit that can be applied to the card balance in the event you default on your credit card account.

Another significant advantage of Capital One Platinum is the chance to boost your credit limit (also referred to as the credit line) in as little as six months.

This is important because a higher credit limit (if it’s not used) can improve your score by lowering your credit utilization ratio.

All you have to do to get your credit line increased is make timely payments for the first half a year.

Additionally, given that Capital One reports to all three major bureaus - Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion - it can help build your credit. Unless your payment history is recorded by all three bureaus, your credit information may be incomplete and your score miscalculated. 

The Capital One Platinum credit card belongs to the Mastercard family and comes with several network-specific advantages. Benefits include fraud coverage, 24-hour travel and roadside assistance, auto rental and travel accident insurance, price protection, and extended warranty coverage. 

Reasons to Explore Other Options

Although it’s one of the most popular credit cards on the market, Capital One Platinum does have a few disadvantages.

First of all, it doesn't offer any type of reward. If you're hoping to accumulate bonus points, miles, or cash rewards, you'll have to look elsewhere. Second of all, carrying a balance does get quite expensive. 

In addition to these obvious disadvantages, it’s also worth mentioning that limits on this card tend to be lower for applicants with average credit.

The lowest credit limit that you can be approved for on this fair credit card is $300. 

At a Glance

• Boost your credit limit in 6 months
• No annual fees
• Fraud coverage

If you've just started building your score or you need help bringing your credit profile out of the gutter, the chances of getting approved for an unsecured credit card are slim.

The good news is, you have other options. There are cards that don't charge annual fees and give you a chance to boost your credit line after only six timely monthly payments - and the Secured Mastercard from Capital One ticks all of these boxes.

APR and Fees

Like most credit-building cards, Capital One Secured Mastercard doesn’t offer an introductory APR, while the regular APR for both balance transfers and purchases is 26.99% (variable).

On the other hand, it lets you choose not only your due date but also your preferred payment method, which makes this financial product one of the most sought-after fair-credit credit cards.

You can pay your bill online, write a check, or visit a local branch to make the transaction. 

There are no annual membership or foreign transaction charges. There is a penalty fee for each late payment, however, and it goes up to $40.

Also, remember that you’ll be charged at least $10 or 3% of the transaction amount for each cash advance and 3% of the amount of each balance transfer.

Reasons to Choose the Capital One Secured Mastercard

Geared towards consumers who are building or rebuilding their credit scores, this secured credit card has a large target market.

Its security deposit-related flexibility is a particularly popular feature: While most similar secured credit cards require you to match your credit line with the amount of your deposit, this one has a different approach.

Once you apply for the Capital One Secured Mastercard, the issuer will use your credit score to determine how much you’ll need to pay upfront as a guarantee. Depending on your credit profile, you’ll need to pay a refundable deposit of $49, $99, or $200 to unlock your initial $200 credit limit.

Consideration for a higher credit limit might come very quickly. All you have to do to boost it and possibly reduce your credit utilization ratio is make six on-time monthly payments.

You won’t be required to deposit more money when your credit line increases, either.

Secured Mastercard from Capital One offers zero fraud liability, security alerts, autopay, 24/7 customer service, travel assistance, auto rental and travel insurance, and an extended warranty.  

Reasons to Explore Other Options 

If your credit score is at the lower end of fair (or even poor), and you need to rebuild it, the Capital One Secured Mastercard is excellent to work with.

Still, if you can qualify for an unsecured credit card, we suggest you do so to avoid the otherwise required security deposit. 

Other drawbacks you’ll have to face if you decide to sign up for this card include high-interest rates, a low initial credit limit, and no rewards.

At a Glance

• No foreign transaction fees
• Security deposit lower than the credit limit
• Excellent for rebuilding credit

Created with consumers with modest credit histories in mind, the Credit One Bank Visa for Rebuilding Credit is an excellent card for general use, it offers 1% cashback rewards on eligible everyday purchases, no annual fee for qualifying applicants, and zero fraud liability.

APR and Fees

Like most credit cards in this range, the Credit One Bank Visa for Rebuilding Credit doesn’t have an introductory APR offer. The annual percentage rate for cash advances and purchases is 23.99% (variable).

Keep in mind, however, that this credit-rebuilding Visa comes with an annual fee. You will be charged a $75 annual membership fee in the first year and $99 afterward (in monthly installments of $8.25).

There’s a cash advance fee (the greater of $5 or 8% of each cash advance, or the greater of $10 or 3-5%) and a foreign transaction charge (either $1 or 3% of each purchase in US dollars - whichever is greater). There are also potential penalty costs, such as the late payment and returned payment fees, both of which go up to $39. 

Reasons to Choose the Credit One Bank Visa for Rebuilding Credit

Credit cards like this one can still come with plenty of advantages and premium features. One of the things that set the Credit One Bank Visa for Rebuilding Credit apart from its immediate competitors is its rewards policy.

As a cardmember, you get 1% cashback rewards on qualifying purchases including groceries, gas, and services such as cable and satellite TV, internet, and mobile phone.

Given that the card issuer lets you go through a quick pre-qualification procedure, you can check if you’re eligible for the card without undergoing a credit check that may lower your credit score. 

Credit One Bank Visa lets you access your Experian credit report summary for free. An especially useful feature if you are building or rebuilding your credit profile, it allows you to keep an eye on the factors impacting your credit health.

Other benefits include the opportunity for increasing your credit limit after a while, zero fraud liability, and managing your account via the Credit One Bank mobile app.

Reasons to Explore Other Options 

Since it doesn’t make you sacrifice rewards while helping you build or rebuild your credit profile, this card is truly one of the most alluring ones on our list.

However, Credit One Bank Visa does come with a few drawbacks you should be aware of. 

With no grace period on purchases, you’ll be accruing relatively high interest rates on your transactions from day one.

And, in addition to the potential annual membership fee, there are foreign transactions, cash advance, late payment, and returned payment fees to think about.

At a Glance

• Cashback rewards on everyday purchases
• Simple pre-qualification process
• Credit line increase potential

Newbie credit users or those looking to rebuild their profile might find they’re best served by the Discover it Secured, a credit card that requires a refundable security deposit.

But don’t let the deposit daunt you - the card also offers 2% cash back up to $1000 on select purchasing categories, unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases, and unlimited cash back matching on all rewards earned throughout your first year as a cardholder.

APR and Fees

For six months, starting from the date of your first transfer, you get a 10.99% intro APR on balance transfers.

After the promotional period expires, your APR will be 22.99% on balance transfers (and purchases) and 24.99% on cash advances (both variable). But no penalty APR!

If you’re on the hunt for this type of credit card but can’t justify paying an annual fee, you'll be happy to hear that the Discover it Secured carries no such charges.

However, there are a few other standard fees you should be aware of: The balance transfer fee (3% in the intro period and 5% of each transfer amount afterward), cash advance fee (either $10 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance), late payment fee (up to $40, waived for the first time late payment), and returned payment fee (up to $40).

Reasons to Choose the Discover it Secured Credit Card

Discover it Secured comes with many benefits that cards for consumers with modest credit histories usually skimp on. 

First of all, this card doesn’t make you give up on rewards while building your credit profile. It earns you 2% cash back at restaurants and gas stations for the first $1,000 in combined purchases every three months.

Additionally, on all other purchases, you get unlimited 1% cash back. To top it off, there is an unlimited dollar-for-dollar bonus match on all the cash back accumulated in your first year as a cardholder. 

Another reason the Discover it Secured card stands out is that the issuer reviews your credit profile each month to determine whether you can transition to an unsecured account.

Keep in mind that you’ll need to be a cardmember for eight months before these automatic monthly reviews can start.

Discover it Secured can be a great asset in building your credit history, as it reports to the three credit bureaus. It also lets you see your FICO score online, on statements, or via the Discover mobile app, all without hurting your credit. 

The card waives several fees, too: Paying late won't raise your annual percentage rate (i.e. no penalty APR) and you’ll be forgiven your late fee the first time you miss a timely payment.

Reasons to Explore Other Options

One of the biggest drawbacks of this Discover card is the minimum deposit requirement of $200. The lowest credit limit that you can get approved for happens to be the same. 

Though the Discover it Secured card offers a lower introductory APR, its ongoing rate is still quite high.

Unlike Visa or Mastercard credit cards, Discover cards are not widely accepted outside the United States.

If you travel abroad a lot or make purchases with foreign vendors frequently, you will either need to severely limit your spending or, as we would suggest, look into alternative options. 

At a Glance

• No penalty APR
• No annual membership fee
• Potential upgrade to an unsecured credit card

Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards offers an excellent cash rewards rate along with advanced card benefits such as credit monitoring, fraud coverage, and automatic credit line reviews. 

APR and Fees

There isn’t an introductory APR offer with the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards. The ongoing rate is 26.99% (variable) for both purchases and cash advances. Unlike the Indigo® Platinum Mastercard®, this Capital One option doesn’t impose a penalty APR. 

Unlike their other card on our list, Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards comes with an annual fee of $39. As far as other costs go, there’s the 3% balance transfer fee. Cash advances also incur a 3% charge or at least $10.

Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards also doesn’t impose a foreign transaction fee. Lastly, keep in mind that should you fail to make an on-time payment, you’ll face a penalty charge of up to $40.

Reasons to Choose the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

One of the features that make this card stand out from the crowd is that it lets you earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases, every day.

The accumulated rewards don’t expire for the life of your account and you can redeem them for cash (receive a check in the mail) or statement credit, use the cashback rewards to cover your recent purchases or spend them on gift cards. 

Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards comes with a list of advanced card benefits such as $0 fraud liability, account and security alerts, card lock, emergency card replacement, balance transfer capabilities, and the opportunity to monitor your credit profile with the CreditWise app.

It’s also important to mention that as a Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards card user you can rest assured that your payment information will be reported to the three major consumer credit bureaus.

Additionally, the card issuer will consider you automatically for a credit line increase after just six months of using the credit card responsibly. 

Reasons to Explore Other Options

As far as drawbacks go, this card comes with a starting credit line of only $300. Add the $39 annual fee to the mix and you’ll see that there is a real risk of damaging your credit score due to a high credit utilization ratio.

Furthermore, the card comes with an above-average APR along with a list of additional charges such as penalty fees. 

Lastly, even though it offers an ongoing reward program, unlike some of the other credit cards on our list, the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards doesn’t have a welcome bonus.

At a Glance

• Generous flat-rate cashback rewards
• Allows pre-qualification
• No foreign transaction fees